11 FEB 2026 Court Jails Two Chinese 46 Years Each for N3.4bn, $2.5m Cyberterrorism, Internet Fraud in Lagos Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, convicted and sentenced two Chinese: Huang Haoyu and An Hongxu, to 46 years’ imprisonment each for cyber terrorism and internet fraud. The convicts, alongside one Friday Audu were among a syndicate of 792 fraudsters arrested for cryptocurrency, investment and romance fraud on December 19, 2024 in Lagos in a surprise operation tagged “Eagle Flush Operation” by EFCC operatives. Investigations revealed that Friday allegedly incorporated Genting International Co. Ltd. on the directive of Huang Haoyu to facilitate the fraudulent scheme. The defendants were found to have procured and employed Nigerian youths to falsely represent themselves as foreign nationals for the purpose of defrauding unsuspecting victims through online platforms. They were subsequently arraigned alongside a company, Genting International Co. Ltd., by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a seven- count charge bordering on cyber-terrorism, internet fraud and money laundering to the tune of N3,407,824,740.78 (Three Billion, Four Hundred and Seven Million, Eight Hundred Twenty-Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty Naira, Seventy Eight kobo), and $2,562,203 ( Two Million, Five Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Three United States Dollars). One of the counts reads: “That you, Huang Haoyu, a.k.a Ken, Audu Friday, An Hongxu, Duliang Pan (at large) and Genting International Co. Ltd, sometime in 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, conspired to willfully cause to be accessed, computer systems organised to seriously destabilise the economic and social structure of Nigeria (which prohibits and prevents cyber and related crimes) when you, with intent to gain a financial advantage for yourselves and cronies, procured and or employed Nigerian youths to falsely represent themselves as persons of foreign nationalities, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended, 2024) and punishable under Section 18 of the same Act”. They initially pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them. At the resumed sitting on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, counsel to the first and third defendants, Bridget Omateno, informed the court that the defendants would like to change their pleas from “not guilty” to “guilty.” When the charges were re-read to them, both Haoyu and Hongxu pleaded “guilty” to the procured and or employed Nigerian youths to falsely represent themselves as persons of foreign nationalitie charges filed against them, while Audu maintained his plea of “not guilty.” Following the guilty pleas of both Haoyu and Hongxu, who are directors in the company, the prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Bala- Buhari stated that the prosecution had earlier called two witnesses before the change of plea. She urged the court to impose the maximum punishment of life imprisonment on counts 1, 2 and 3, and 14 years’ imprisonment on counts 4 to 7. The prosecution also prayed the court to order the forfeiture of all items recovered during investigation from the four properties listed in the charge (Items 1–135) to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The items are: 1,596 mobile phones, 2,120 office chairs, 544 office tables, 194 routers, 43 computer systems, a network server, 126 air-conditioning units, several generators and vehicles, hundreds of mattresses and bunk beds, thousands of SIM cards across different networks, and numerous other electronic devices and household items recovered from premises at No. 7 Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island; Plot 1220 Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island; 54A A.J. Marinho Drive, Victoria Island; and No. 14A Modupe Alakija Crescent, Ikoyi. Delivering judgment, Justice Osiagor convicted and sentenced the first and third defendants to a cumulative term of 46 years’ imprisonment each, with an option of fine of N56,000,000 (Fifty- Six Million Naira). The court also ordered that they undertake three days of community service and be repatriated after serving their sentences and completing the community service. The matter was adjourned till April 29, 2026 for the continuation of trial involving Audu Friday, who maintained his not guilty plea. The press release contains photos: court-jails-two-chinese-46-years-each-for-n34bn-25m-cyberterrorism-internet-fraud-in-lagos 419 Coalition note: As we mentioned many times last year, the verbiage of the charge reading that the defendants "conspired to willfully cause to be accessed, computer systems organised to seriously destabilise the economic and social structure of Nigeria" is simply propaganda shifting the blame for this this massive 419 operation from Nigerian nationals on to Chinese foreigners. Firstly, someone, presumably Nigerian, had to sponsor these Chinese nationals for entry to and residence in Nigeria. Secondly, the great bulk of people 419ing who were involved in Operation Eagle Flush were Nigerian nationals - something like 500 Nigerian nationals were involved and only a couple of hundred mostly foreign nationals were arrested, not all of whom were Chinese. Thirdly, the Nigerian nationals who were "procured and or employed Nigerian youths to falsely represent themselves as persons of foreign nationalities" were just as guilty of 419 crimes as their foreign co-workers and just as deserving of being prosecuted for them. Fourthly, directly bearing on the "destabilzation" etc. charge, 419 Coalition maintains that 419ers in general do not give a damn about the Nigerian government or economy, but simply wish to line their own pockets, and that this 419 operation was no exception to that general rule. ************************************************** 4 FEB 2026 EFCC Arraigns Fake Investor for Defrauding Americans $525,276 in Uyo The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Uyo Zonal Directorate on Thursday January 29, 2026, arraigned Victor Ekpong Thompson before Justice Maureen Adaobi of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo for allegedly defrauding some Americans the sum of $525,276 (Five Hundred And Twenty Five Thousand, Two Hundred And Seventy Six United States Dollars). Thompson was arraigned on eight-count charges for allegedly obtaining the above sum from his victims under the guise of helping them to invest in mineral resources and deep sea port business. The defendant allegedly defrauded some Americans, Tammy Jensen, Kenneth Blad, Peter Jensen and a few others. One of the charges reads, “that you, Victor Ekpeyong Thompson, on or between April, 2024 to December, 2024 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, with intent to defraud, did fraudulently obtain the sum of Two Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars ($213,350 USD) from Tammy Jensen, Peter Jensen, Kenneth Blad and others (Joint unsuspecting investors), under the pretence of investing the money in mining of mineral resources and deep sea port business, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act'. When the charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty to them. Following his plea of 'not guilty', prosecution counsel Joshua Abolarin prayed the court for a trial date and remand of the defendant in the Correctional Centre pending the determination of the case. However, defence counsel, Savn Daniel made an oral bail application, to which the prosecution objected. After listening to both counsels, Justice Adaobi adjourned the matter to March 19, 2026, for the determination of bail and commencement of trial while the defendant was remanded at the EFCC’s detention facility in Uyo. The press release contains a photo: efcc-arraigns-fake-investor-for-defrauding-americans-525276-in-uyo *************************************************** 3 FEB 2026 - 1 JAN 2026 The Nigerian EFCC did not post any news on West African Advance Fee Fraud (419) crimes 1 JAN - 3 FEB 2026. There was lots of news on Public fraud sorts of things - embezzlement of government funds and malfeasance by government officials and that sort of thing; and of "standard" private sector types of fraud (land swindles, crytpo swindles and the like) but nothing really on Advance Fee Fraud (419) crimes. This was unusual, and is the longest stretch in years that we can remember offhand that has not included at least several postings dealing specifically with Advance Fee Fraud (419) crimes. The above have made 419 Coalition wonder if this lack of press releases concerning 419 mattersis merely a coincidence, or a change in policy or emphasis at the EFCC. Time will tell, wesuppose, as bottom lime is that there is still massive amounts of 419 crime emanating fromNigeria, whether the EFCC is continuing to prioritize counter-419 operations or not. This might be a good time to again note that 419 Coalition has long recommended that the EFCC focus on private sector finiancial crimes, with an emphasis on 419 crimes. We think that it might be a good idea for public sector crimes to be handled primarily by the Internal Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC); and for private sector "standard" fraud crimes to be handled by the Nigerian Police Force. This would free up EFCC to prioritize counter-419 operations in the private sector. To us, it seems like the three services above are all handling all sorts of cases rather than just sticking in their "lane". This inevitably causes confusion as to who is responsible for what, creating duplication of effort problems, and other issues. We think that some "fine tuning" of the charters of the EFCC, ICPC, and Nigeria Police would be good for all the agencies, and inject a little more clarity into fighting private and public sector crimes in Nigeria. Be all the above as it may, it does appear, from their press releases 1 JAN - 3 FEB 2026 that the EFCC has been putting a lot of effort into what 419 Coalition would consider public sector crimes that probably ought to be more in the bailiwick of the ICPC than that of the EFCC. And 419 Coalition of course would prefer that EFCC would prioritize counter-419 operations as its primary mission going forward. Coordinator, 419 Coalition ***********************************************************************